Peace Now Settlement Watch News Flash: Distancing The Two State Solution: The Ministry of Housing's Plans and Construction - Exposed

A Peace Now report, based on information disclosed by the Ministry of Housing (MoH) following our freedom
of information petition, reveals highly concerning facts on the government's actions and intentions with
regards to the settlements and the two state solution. The report includes data on the planning
of 55,548 housing units in West Bank Settlements, including in E1, as well as plans for two new
settlements and the immediate construction of 3,078 units, 78% of which east of the separation
barrier.

Peace Now:The exposed MoH plans portray a worrying and dangerous picture for
the state of Israel and for the two state solution. The execution of the plans exposed does not only stand in
contrast to previous promises to the United States, but also seriously threaten the possibility of arriving at a
two state solution. We call on Housing Minister Yoav Galant of Kulanu not to follow his predecessor's vision and to
stop these plans immediately. Rather than continuing to plan thousands of units in the settlements, we call upon
Minister Galant to invest in planning and construction in Israel proper.

Main findings:

The MoH is working on plans for 55,548 units in West Bank
settlements, in different phases of planning:

About half of this planning is for construction east of
the Separation Barrier.

The plans include more than 8,372 units in the E1
area.

The plans include two brand-new settlements: Givat
Eitam (aka, E2, or A-Nahla, located south of Bethlehem), and Bitronot/Brosh, in the northern Jordan
Valley.

The plans include the post-facto legalization/approval of
at least six illegal outposts.

The plans include construction to transform a number of small settlements into bigger towns.

In addition, the MoH is working today on plans for immediate implementationof construction of 3786, units, 64% of them east of the Separation Barrier.

In addition, the MoH is already funding infrastructure work for
the construction of 4,054 units, 70% of them east of the Separation Barrier.

In addition, it appears the MoH has funded a number of illegal
projects in settlements.

In addition, the MoH gave at least 1.8 million NIS to local
authorities in settlements for campaigns encouraging Israelis to move to settlements.

In addition, the MoH funded the expansion of the Beit Romano
settlement in the heart of Hebron (1 million NIS), and gave another 350,000 NIS for the renovation of
the settlers’ “Beitar Club” in Hebron.

In addition, the
Ministry of Housing of Housing (MoH) is planning for settlement expansion in East Jerusalem:

The MoH is planning a new neighborhood in Atarot (10,000 units) between Beit Hanina and Ramallah

The MoH is planning for the expansion of Har Homa to the west (2,000 units)

The MoH is planning for 21 units in the heart of the Muslim Quarter, near Herod's Gate.